Do Public Goods Explain Why Bureaucrats Participate in Organizations?

• In Event: Why They Do What They Do? Influences on Bureaucratic Leadership and Management

Abstract

The literature on Public Service Motivation (PSM) has long emphasized the distinctive motivational character of public employees relating to serving public institutions. Specifically, this literature concerns the relationship between public employees and their motivations to serve the public interest. Under this framework and given their distinctive values, individuals with strong desires to work in the public’s best interest are more likely to seek careers in the public sector.

This desire to serve the public interest has driven research about commitment to public organizations. However, scarce research has explored the relation between the provision certain public goods and bureaucratic civic commitment. In other words, does the type of public good lead to engagement in civic associations?

Utilizing data from the most recent wave of World Values Survey - WVS (2017-2020) in all countries in the world, this study compares the level or degree of organizational commitment of public-sector workers and general citizens. Public employees are expected to report a stronger sense of public interest and higher levels of organizational engagement in social, economic, political and civic activities conditional on certain public goods.

This study contributes to social capital and Public Service Motivation literature on the differences among public employees by providing a cross-national analysis based on WVS data, which is the largest time series investigation of human beliefs and values.

Authors

• Nathalie Mendez, Universidad de los Andes

• Claudia N. Avellaneda, Indiana University